I said it many weeks before,the instinct is a very great stick,i ve never hit a better backhand with any racket,buy this! ....

Richard uses a standart Instinct(dont know if its modified,but i think too)
He strung with alu,now with the Orginal,when iam right..
Martinez told in a thread that he switched a while between standart and xl,now its the standart (crazy ****)

Is Gasquet in some sort of dispute w/ Head about sponsorship? He doesn't use a stencil... Why isn't Head jumping at the chance?

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No, he is still in contract. Look at other pictures from the same day there are stencils in the strings. He probably broke a string or changed the racket for other reason and the stencil wasn't already painted. That's all.

Hi, today I saw Gasquet raquet stinging at Foro Italico in Rome, he uses Big Banger original at 24-23 Kg, and it's not a paintjob but a real Instinct.
The other player's prestiges, though, were all older versions painted, with the fake liquidmetal inserts!
Ciao

The way I read Tom's post is different. I believe he was trying to say Richard is switching b/w the 18x19s & 16x19s string pattern both in the XL version, NOT b/w standard and XL. If you read carefully:

"Yes, he does play Instincts. He had several versions of the Instinct at the US, some were longer 18 x 19s, and others were the 16 x 19s. Strange but true. And at that time he was using ALU Power, not the hybrid of Head Comp. Poly/Head Natural gut he's used in the past."

The stock XL is 16x19 as you know, so the longer 18x19 means a custom string pattern in an XL, and the 16x19s are just the regular XL tour you can get in retail, not a regular length 16x19. This is the way I read it, maybe Tom can clarify himself?

Nothing is sure about pros and their equipment,but when i look the many richpixx i would say its not a xlversion...but can be..
I emailed with some guys,and he tried out both - but thats not so interesting.
I would like to know what he swing this days(how heavy it is),this french sensation backhand dude

I've begun experimenting with slightly lighter frames and poly strings (always played with 12 to 12.5 ounce headlight thin-beamed racquets with syn. gut). Since I like Gasquet so much, I picked up a couple of 27" Instincts and one XL Instinct Tour model on a used-goods website. I have a set of pretty accurate digital scales. The two regular Instincts weighed close to specs: 11.1 and 11.3 ounces with no overgrips. The first had syn. gut and the second poly. But the XL weighed a hefty 12.2 ounces. After I added an overgrip, it tipped the scales at 12.4 ounces.... although on balance it was much more headlight than the lighter 27-inch versions. Considering that the thing is about 27-5/8 inches long, it swings heavier than most of the older "players" sticks I've been using for years. It's very powerful, and with the swing-weight it would take a very good player to swing it the way Gasquet does and get that kind of result.

The regular Instinct does feel light, but the XL Tour model is a hoss!

I'm pretty sure it has been discussed before, and from what I remember it is indeed a variation of the LM instinct XL tour...

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ya those pics were posted on getty images months ago. and its not so much a variation of the tour xl as IT IS the tour xl. i have heard that richie likes the way that head sends him the sticks and doesn't deviate too far from it.

Watch Gasquet get destroyed by Ferrer this weekend and payed close attention to his racquet. Without a doubt a paintjob. Not even same headshap as a microgel extreme. Total bs have more integrity and dont endorse products you dont use.

(I know everyone does it and it wont change but it still dosnt make it right)